Description: Shakespeare’s Othello is one of his finest and most famous tragedies. This highly acclaimed performance, which ran between November 2007 and February 2008 at the Donmar Warehouse in London, features Chiwetel Ejiofor as the Moor Othello, Ewan McGregor as the scheming Iago, and Kelly Reilly as the gentle Desdemona. This recording features music written specifically for the stage production which enjoyed huge success – each performance was a sell-out.

Description: The quality of mercy is not strained..." Hear the extraordinary power and range of Shakespeare at his best. Pathos and farce combine with moral complexity in this disturbing story of the Jewish moneylender Shylock and his demand for the "pound of flesh" owed him by the Venetian merchant, Antonio, who has fallen into Shylock's debt. The new movie stars Al Pacino.

Description: Bill Wallis takes the title role in a new BBC Radio 3 production of one of Shakespeare's most rarely performed plays. Cymbeline tells of the semi-legendary King's dealings with the Romans, the secret marriage of his daughter, Imogen, the cynical Iachimo's attempts on her chastity when her husband is banished, and the exiled Belarius, living in a cave at Milford Haven with the abducted sons of Cymbeline.

Description: Listen to the sound of English as it was meant to be heard. The only authorized audio companion to the widely-respected Norton Anthology of Poetry, Third Edition, this audio collection includes the greatest poems of the English Language, ranging from the writings of Shakespeare, Milton, Blake, and Wordsworth, to the best-loved verse of Whitman, Dickinson, the Brownings, and Yeats39 poets in all. The readings by brilliant classic actors Alexander Scourby, Nancy Wickwire, and Bramwell Fletcher are presented in the order they appear in Norton and are selected for their ability to delight. It is simply a collection of the best.

Description: Lysander loves Hermia, but Hermia is to be married to Demetrius, who is still the apple of Helena's eye. Hermia and Lysander plan to elope so they tell Helena, who warns Demetrius. Demetrius follows Hermia into the woods, then Helena follows Demetrius. When Oberon, king of the fairies, uses his magic to cast a spell on the four runaway lovers in a midsummer wood outside Athens, chaos ensues. This wonderful production is performed by Roy Hudd, Amanda Root, and the Arkangel cast.

Description: Prospero and his daughter Miranda have been exiled to a mysterious island, where he uses his magical powers to control his enemies. This haunting drama of vengeance and forgiveness crowns the group of tragicomic romances that Shakespeare composed at the end of his career. Performed by Jennifer Ehle, Adrian Lester, and the Arkangel cast.

Description: This production of Romeo and Juliet featuring Kenneth Branagh and Sir John Gielgud is a superb contribution to the field of classics on cassette. The stunning performance by the Renaissance Theatre Company captures all the color and emotion of Shakespeare's eloquent tragedy of young love. With Samantha Bond as Juliet, Derek Jacobi as Mercutio, and Judi Dench as Nurse, the play, which is set in 16th-century Verona, contains some of the most passionate dialog ever written. An excellent musical score by Patrick Doyle accompanies the actors, as well as a full array of authentic sound effects. The pounding of hooves, the chiming of church bells, and the clashing of angry swords enrich this outstanding listening experience. A 24-page booklet complete with sketches and photos of the actors, a synopsis of the play, and background information is included in the package. Highly recommended for most libraries.

Description: A king foolishly divides his kingdom between his scheming two oldest daughters and estranges himself from the daughter who loves him. So begins this profoundly moving and disturbing tragedy that, perhaps more than any other work in literature, challenges the notion of a coherent and just universe. The king and others pay dearly for their shortcomings–as madness, murder, and the anguish of insight and forgiveness that arrive too late combine to make this an all-embracing tragedy of evil and suffering.

Description: It is a tragedy that all actors seem to crave to perform, and the Renaissance Theatre Company clearly relishes the chance to present Hamlet for the ear. It is a contemporary cast from which one has come to expect superior Shakespearean acting on stage and screen: Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet; Sir John Gielgud as the Ghost; Derek Jacobi as Claudius; and Emma Thompson as the Player Queen. Unlike the Recorded Books version (Audio Reviews, LJ 8/90), this BBC edition may be a little hard to follow by those unfamiliar with the play's text, particularly since stage directions are not provided and speakers are not clearly identified. But the program does give the complete version, a rare treat, and the accompanying booklet offers insights into both the acting and the production.

Description: Antonio borrows money from the cruel Shylock to help his friend Bassanio court the wealthy heiress, Portia, but there's a dreadful penalty if the loan is not repaid — a pound of Antonio’s own flesh. A brilliant comedy that calls forth some of Shakespeare’s most lyrical love poetry, The Merchant of Venice reaches a courtroom climax in which the opposing values of justice and mercy must be resolved. Performed by Hadyn Gwynne, Bill Nighy, and the Arkangel cast.